Committee Teamwork Gives Budget Bill Early Boost

DENVER, Colo. -- Months of collaboration and consensus-building between members of the bipartisan Joint Budget Committee paid off Monday, with unanimous passage of the sometimes-contentious “long bill” by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

JBC Chairman Senator Kent Lambert credited a transparent process and the cooperative attitude of fellow committee members with the budget bill’s early success, while acknowledging that there were sure to be speed bumps ahead.

“Every member of the committee, whether Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, worked hard to produce a budget that could win the acceptance of both houses of the legislature,” said Lambert (R-Colorado Springs). “I credit this initial success to their ability to rise above partisanship in favor of a reasonable, balanced, consensus-oriented approach.”

Lambert said he hoped that example of professionalism, cooperation and collegiality would set the tone as the budget debate unfolds. The budget bill is next scheduled to be debated by the Senate as a whole, before moving to the House for action.

Key 2015/16 budget highlights include:

--Total gross general fund revenues largest in state history: $10.25 billion